Kazakhstan assumes presidency of UN Security Council

ASTANA -- For the first time in its history, Kazakhstan assumed the presidency of the UN Security Council as of Monday (January 1).

The country, a non-permanent member of the council, will head it for the month of January. The presidency rotates regularly among council members.

Kazakhstan plans to prioritise achieving a world free of nuclear weapons and eliminating the threat of global war, among other goals, according to a December 31 Astana Times article. It also plans to promote the interests of Central Asia.